Story Details
Published on 2022-09-15
Categories Fantasy Contemporary Fantasy
When a peaceful, but socially awkward zombie shows up just wanting to go back to his old life, a well-meaning resident discovers that her community is not quite as welcoming as it imagines. A first- time short story publication for author Margaret Balch-Gonzalez.
Author Details
Margaret Balch-Gonzalez Vern Fronk Returns to Our Neighborhood
Margaret Balch-Gonzalez is a writer, editor, and former science teacher living in Providence, Rhode Island. Most recently she worked as an editor of social science publications at Brown University. She has lived and traveled extensively in Europe, South America, and Asia and taught middle school science and English as a Second Language in Argentina, Ecuador, and Japan. This story is her first published work of fiction. Story Notes for “Vern Fronk Returns to Our Neighborhood” When a peaceful, but socially awkward zombie shows up just wanting to go back to his old life, my protagonist discovers that her community is not quite as welcoming as it imagines. The character of Vern Fronk was inspired by a late family member with mental health issues who struggled his whole life to be treated with dignity and respect. I was his caregiver. I felt exasperation and compassion for his quirks, anger and gratitude at how others treated him, dismay at the lack of supports, and appreciation for the limited supports that do exist. I had recurring dreams that he came back from the dead. This story started to form: How would a community deal with the sudden appearance of vulnerable and marginalized undead? Could scientists and nonprofits help? What kind of backlash would “undead science” encounter? How could kindness, cooperation, and evidence-based knowledge nudge a community toward its better self?
Vern Fronk Returns to Our Neighborhood by Margaret Balch-Gonzalez
Author Details
Margaret Balch-Gonzalez Vern Fronk Returns to Our Neighborhood
Margaret Balch-Gonzalez is a writer, editor, and former science teacher living in Providence, Rhode Island. Most recently she worked as an editor of social science publications at Brown University. She has lived and traveled extensively in Europe, South America, and Asia and taught middle school science and English as a Second Language in Argentina, Ecuador, and Japan. This story is her first published work of fiction. Story Notes for “Vern Fronk Returns to Our Neighborhood” When a peaceful, but socially awkward zombie shows up just wanting to go back to his old life, my protagonist discovers that her community is not quite as welcoming as it imagines. The character of Vern Fronk was inspired by a late family member with mental health issues who struggled his whole life to be treated with dignity and respect. I was his caregiver. I felt exasperation and compassion for his quirks, anger and gratitude at how others treated him, dismay at the lack of supports, and appreciation for the limited supports that do exist. I had recurring dreams that he came back from the dead. This story started to form: How would a community deal with the sudden appearance of vulnerable and marginalized undead? Could scientists and nonprofits help? What kind of backlash would “undead science” encounter? How could kindness, cooperation, and evidence-based knowledge nudge a community toward its better self?
